Spain

For thousands of years, Spain has been at the crossroads where diverse cultures and civilizations have met. Basques, Romans, Visigoths, Arabs, and many other peoples have found a home on the Iberian Peninsula. For the last five centuries, the history of Spain has been marked by an ambitious attempt to forge diverse ethnic and linguistic groups into a single, unified nation, but Spain remains an intricate mosaic of cultures. We will explore something of Spain’s heritage as we walk the medieval streets of Toledo, take in the beauty of Córdoba’s mosque, and contemplate the engineering marvels of Segovia’s Roman aqueduct and Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum. We will study the works of artists such as Velázquez, Goya, Picasso, and Dalí. And we will walk in the footsteps of Spain’s greatest authors, Cervantes, Galdós, and Unamuno, and see the places that inspired their works.

The program is based in Alcalá de Henares, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Alcalá is a safe and inviting city close to Madrid where students can become intimately familiar with some incredible landmarks, including the Prado Museum, the Parque del Buen Retiro, and the Puerta del Sol. Alcalá is home to one of the oldest universities in all of Europe and was the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes.

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DATES

30 April–19 June 2019

HOUSING

Students will live in the residence hall Lope de Vega of the Universidad de Alcalá. This residence is centrally located and students will interact with other university students from Spain and Latin America.

COURSES

Students must register for 1 credit hour of IAS 201R (Madrid Walks) and 5–6 credit hours from among the following classes:

Participants may not take any other courses on this program, including BYU Online courses, without approval by the program director and ISP.

COST

$5,900–6,200

Includes LDS undergraduate tuition (increased cost for graduate and non-LDS students), housing, meals at the student residence, a transportation pass to trains, buses and subway, admissions, excursions, hotels with continental breakfast while away from Alcalá, and international health insurance.

Not included: airfare, meals on excursions, and personal expenses.

PREPARATION

All students who are accepted into the program are required to participate in an international, cross-cultural preparation course (IAS 201, 1 credit hour). This evening course will be held during the second block of winter semester 2019.

Part-time and non-BYU students will need to pay an additional $294 tuition fee for enrolling in the prep class.

Accompanying spouses need to be credit-bearing participants on the program. Spouses will also need to apply online and take the preparation course.

FUNDING SOURCES

Students who submit the financial aid section of the ISP application, and who have a current FAFSA form on file at the Financial Aid Office (A-41 ASB), will be considered for a Study Abroad scholarship and may be considered for other scholarships.

They must indicate on their original online application that they want to be considered for financial aid.

Academic departments and colleges may assist with scholarships and grants.

FACULTY

Erik Larson is the faculty director for the program. Larson is an assistant professor of Spanish literature and culture in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. He will be accompanied by his wife Katy and their three children.

SCHEDULE AND TIME COMMITMENT

The program is tentatively scheduled to begin on 30 April, with students departing on 19 June. More specific recommendations regarding travel will be provided to program participants in the preparation course.